September 29, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=9 in TE)

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COVID UPDATE – September 29, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 9 (9 residents TE / 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID POSTIVE: September 27, 2021

PASSED AWAY TODAY: 0 (T=1 resident TE)

Today, we wait as the results of the PPT (point-prevalence testing) are reported to us. It’s tough to wait, but it may take a few days to get the complete set of PPT results together. Assisted Living residents results of their COVID swab are reported to Menno Place. Staff receive their own results and report them to Menno Place.

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There are no changes to the orders for TE residents. No social visitors. All residents remain on isolation.

If you are concerned about your loved one and wish to discuss the specifics, please call Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment (604.851.4020) to express your concerns and determine if there is anything that can be done for your loved one specifically.

Residents, Families and Friends – You are Invited to our Menno Place Townhall – October 6, 2021 at 5pm

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Menno Place Virtual Townhall for Families, Friends and Residents of Menno Place

Click here for registration details

You are invited to join us for an online Townhall using Zoom + Slido – October 6, 2021 at 5pm

Here’s the agenda:

  • Menno Place Family & Friends Satisfaction Survey
  • Menno Place Strategic Plan
  • Menno Place and COVID
  • Your Questions asked via SLIDO.com / #MENNOPLACE

Click here for registration details

September 28, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=1)

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COVID UPDATE – September 28, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = September 22, 2021

There are no new cases of COVID to report today in Terrace West. Residents swabbed and put on isolation as a result of contact tracing from the Terrace West index case are no longer on isolation!! Families have been contacted.

NOTE – Some residents remain on isolation. Residents on isolation due to a return from Hospital or due to COVID symptoms are not released from isolation in this announcement. You will receive individual information that pertains to your loved one.

We continue with the Outbreak orders by the Medical Health Officer including no social visitors, lunch served to each apartment suite and no gathering of residents. Essential deliveries can be brought into the foyer of Terrace West and the resident may meet you in the foyer to pick up deliveries.

If you were (in the past) a Registered Visitor, please note that this program is no longer active. There are no social visitors allowed in Terrace West.

September 28, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=9 in TE)

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COVID UPDATE – September 28, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 9 (9 residents TE / 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID POSTIVE: September 27, 2021

PASSED AWAY TODAY: 0 (T=1 resident TE)

Today, the residents and the staff were again tested for COVID. This PPT (point-prevalence test)is necessary to monitor this very unpredictable virus. The results of the PPT will be provided to Menno Place through Public Health.

There are no changes to the orders for TE residents. No social visitors. All residents remain on isolation.

If you are concerned about your loved one and wish to discuss the specifics, please call Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment to express your concerns and determine if there is anything that can be done for your loved one specifically.

September 27, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=1)

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COVID UPDATE – September 27, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

There are no new cases of COVID to report today in Terrace West. Residents on isolation remain on isolation. Residents who have returned from hospital or who are symptomatic are tested for COVID and put on isolation. We continue with the Outbreak orders by the Medical Health Officer including no social visitors, lunch served to each apartment suite and no gathering of residents. Essential deliveries can be brought into the foyer of Terrace West and the resident (not on isolation) may meet you in the foyer to pick up deliveries.

If you were (in the past) a Registered Visitor, please note that this program is no longer active. There are no social visitors allowed in Terrace West.

September 27, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 1 (T=9 in TE)

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COVID UPDATE – September 27, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 9 (9 residents TE / 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID POSTIVE: September 27, 2021

PASSED AWAY TODAY: 0 (T=1 resident TE)

We are sorry to report that one more Terrace East resident has tested positive for COVID. This news is very unfortunate as it highlights how important the isolation and COVID testing is for the residents. This resident showed symptoms of COVID and was tested in between the point-prevalence testing. This is why it is critical that all COVID symptoms are reported to the care team (or Reception for other apartment buildings) as the COVID virus load may take some time to reveal either symptoms or a COVID positive result.

There are no changes to the orders for TE residents. No social visitors. All residents are on isolation.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 28th will be another round of point-prevalence testing where all residents and staff will be tested for COVID.

  • Please pray for the residents who are COVID positive. Three are in hospital and struggling as they battle this disease.
  • Please pray for the staff who are getting weary. The lead for Menno Place is Cheryl Dawes, Manager of Community Enrichment who has not had time-off since the first positive case was identified. Please pray for her as she continues to lead the staff and all the infection control protocols.

Every few days, Cheryl’s team conducts 3 types of audits, the results of which are submitted to Fraser Health:

  • Hand hygiene audit – in this audit, the practices of hand hygiene are observed without the knowledge of the staff member. Education for the staff member is provided if required.
  • PPE audit – in this audit, the practices of donning and doffing personal protective equipment are observed. Education for the staff member is provided if required.
  • Environmental audit – in this audit, the auditor places ultraviolet gel or spray on surfaces that should be cleaned in the enhanced cleaning routines. Several days later, the auditor returns with an ultraviolet light and identifies if all the gel/spray has been removed in the course of the cleaning routine.

Fraser Health provides an Educator to help teach and remind staff of these important practices – hand hygiene, ppe usage and enhanced cleaning. We are so pleased with our staff who consistently score above 90% (mostly 100%) in these audits.

Fraser Health also provides mental health support for the staff who are under immense stress and are first-hand observers to the impact of COVID on the individuals whom they love and serve.

  • Please pray for our staff who are supporting the COVID positive residents, knowing that they are exposing themselves to this virus as they provide this support. Pray for them as they grieve the loss of one of the TE residents and understand the gravity of the illness for the three in hospital. Relationships between staff and residents are very strong and meaningful. This is difficult.

As always, we think of the residents who are in isolation in their apartment suites.

  • Please pray for these residents as they find ways to manage the minutes and the hours in isolation. If your loved one is struggling, please call Cheryl Dawes to let her know what is transpiring for them: 604.851.4020

 

An invitation to join a virtual discussion forum: A study of best practices and policies in BC LTC during a pandemic

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Greetings,

We would like to invite you and your team (including leaders, managers, care providers, ancillary workers) as well as your residents and their families to participate in a 2-hour virtual discussion forum (Fraser Health) on October 1st, 2021 at 2-4 p.m. with University of British Columbia researchers and LTC experts from the BC Ministry of Health, BC Care Provider Association and SafeCareBC.

Register: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0033Gb94mMdENds

The purpose of this forum is to jointly develop best pandemic management policy and practice recommendations for LTC homes in BC. In particular, we would like to know:

  1. Which pandemic policies and practices are applicable across the provincial LTC homes?
  2. What policies and practices should the BC Ministry of Health endorse to ensure effective pandemic management?
  3. What strategies will ensure effective, consistent uptake of policies and practices?
  4. What measurable process and outcomes indicators ensure effective uptake of policies and practices?
  5. What will be required provincially and locally for successful spread and sustainability?

Please distribute this email among your staff, residents, and families (e.g., resident and family councils) and encourage and support them to participate. Participants are required to register (no charge) for this event using the following link. Following registration, you will receive a zoom link for the virtual event.

We understand this is a busy time for you, but we really value your contribution to an important, timely and critical discussion that will shape the future of LTC homes in BC.

Yours faithfully,

Farinaz Havaei RN, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nursing

University of British Columbia

Ph: 604-827-4732

email: farinaz.havaei@ubc.ca

September 24, 2021 – TERRACE WEST (IL) OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=1)

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COVID UPDATE – September 24, 2021 – Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 (1 residents TW | 0 staff)

There are no new cases of COVID to report today in Terrace West. All of the residents who were put on isolation by Public Health due to contact tracing have been swabbed and all tests have returned negative. These residents remain on isolation and await further instruction from the Medical Health Officer as they have been directly exposed to a COVID positive individual.

Here is the memo that will be delivered to Terrace West residents today. It will answer many of the questions that you may have about how you can support your loved one living in Terrace West.

MEMO
Date:             September 24, 2021
To:                  Terrace West (IL) Residents re: Terrace West on Outbreak
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We are sorry to inform you that a resident of Terrace West was diagnosed with COVID-19. The Terrace West apartment building has been declared on Outbreak. This means that there are specific enhanced infection control protocols that need to be followed to ensure that COVID does not spread further.

What does it mean for those on isolation? All residents who were in contact with the COVID positive resident have already been placed on isolation have all tested negative for COVID. They must continue to isolate and wait for direction from the Medical Health Officer. They have a cart outside their apartment door and anyone entering must wear full personal protective equipment.

What about those who are not on isolation? If you are not on isolation, you are asked to follow all enhanced infection control protocols wearing a mask when you are with anyone else, practicing hand hygiene, staying in your suite as much as possible and staying 6 feet apart from others. Don’t visit in each other’s apartment suites. This also means answering a Fraser Health nurse who will ask you twice a day if you have any COVID symptoms. Your noon meal will be delivered to your apartment suite.

What about visitors? Only essential visitors may enter this apartment building or your suite. The Medical Health Officer has to approve anyone to be an essential visitor. The process for application and approval is to phone Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment to explain your situation – 604.851.4020. Anyone who doesn’t live with you is considered a visitor including housekeepers, family, friend. Loved ones can enter the foyer to drop-off essential items such as groceries to you.

Home Support Services: If you receive home support services to assist you with activities of daily living (getting ready in the morning or night, showering, medicine) from Fraser Health, carry on as usual. If another organization provides you services, please notify Reception (604.851.4004) to ensure they are permitted entry as an essential service.

Can residents who are not isolated go out? Yes. You may leave the apartment building. This includes walks or going out with a loved one. It also includes medical appointments. This is a time to be cautious about going where there are large groups (stores, restaurants or church). This virus is very contagious and the elderly are still the most vulnerable to it. Use all your layers of protection: mask, hand washing, 6 feet distance.

September 24, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=8 in TE)

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COVID UPDATE – September 24, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 8 (8 residents TE / 0 staff)

PASSED AWAY TODAY: 0 (T=1 resident TE)

There are no new cases of COVID to report in TE today, however, several residents remain in hospital with COVID. Please pray for them. Terrace West will now receive its own individual daily report.

We continue to wait for the few final test results for the Terrace East point prevalence that was done on September 21st. There are a number of reasons that these can take so long, including organizing the swabbing for over 60 staff. At times, the swab sample is not sufficient and a swab has to be re-done. Almost all have come back for residents and staff and all are negative so far.

When will the isolation end? This decision is made by the Medical Health Officer and is based on the risk of further transmission of COVID. If there is no transmission of COVID and all other factors are assessed as low-risk, it could be called off two weeks after the last COVID positive is diagnosed. This is not a guarantee, but gives some sense of what may transpire.